The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign. The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for DHS efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice.

This partnership will see CH&LA working with the Blue Campaign to support their efforts in helping to increase human trafficking awareness through their public awareness campaign, resources, and training materials.

“CH&LA is looking forward to partnering with the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign to help combat human trafficking within the hotel and lodging industry. As an industry, we recognize the important role that hotels can play in fighting human trafficking networks which often rely on legitimate businesses such as hotels to sustain their operations,” said Lynn Mohrfeld, president and CEO of the California Hotel and Lodging Association.

Through the Blue Campaign, DHS raises public awareness about human trafficking, leveraging partnerships to educate the public to recognize human trafficking and report suspected instances. The Blue Campaign also offers training to hoteliers to increase detection and investigation of human trafficking, and to protect victims and bring suspected traffickers to justice.

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked in countries around the world, including the United States. It is estimated that human trafficking generates many billions of dollars of profit per year, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime.

As an industry, hotels can play an important role in fighting trafficking networks. The America Hotel & Lodging Association, with input from partner state associations, have recently developed Hotel Industry Principles for Combatting Human Trafficking. As part of this effort, hotel companies and properties are encouraged to review their current procedures and policies on human trafficking.